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This research is about understanding and elevating the experienced voice of women in academic leadership positions at the mid-career point. Mid-career is a time characterized by various emotional and mental perspectives that fall along a continuum (or spectrum) from exhausted and confused to relieved and free. The study is about women holding leadership positions where they have facilitated the success of underrepresented students at HBCUs to broaden participation in STEM. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used in this study to understand the journey of four mid-career academic women leaders at four HBCUs. A semi-structured interview protocol was administered. An analysis of women's responses to challenges and successes revealed that they experienced more success than challenges. The findings of the study have implications for future leadership development for women in academe.

To represent its population, the nation should have a diverse science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. It is known that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) serve as key producers of minority STEM graduates. As such, HBCUs have contributed to the diverse workforce. Therefore, this chapter examined the role of presidents at HBCUs in broadening participation in STEM fields. Presidents at four HBCUs participated in a semi-structured interview. The four academic leadership frames (structural, human resources, political, and symbolic) were used to explain the factors that have contributed to HBCUs' success rates. Identified factors were providing students with research and internship opportunities, having an adequate STEM curriculum, having appropriate faculty and personnel at the institution, having financial resources, and creating an environment that was nurturing and supportive of students.

Academic leaders influence direct reports and subordinates towards accomplishing specified goals. In a time of crisis, goals are usually based on overcoming challenges that allow the unit to progress and continue functioning. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was a major crisis that caused many challenges for academic leaders. COVID-19 forced academic leaders to demonstrate their effectiveness in a crisis. This chapter explores leading during the COVID-19 crisis. It examines the leadership style preferences such as transformational leadership style for women and transactional leadership style for men. It also explores leadership challenges and provides implication strategies for academic leaders.

Despite the climate change debate, the climate is changing. Human society is impacted by a variety of factors such as new precipitation patterns, rising temperature, and other changes. Nevertheless, changes in human behavior can help reduce climate change. Human perceptions and attitudes are also necessary for environmental stewardship. Good environmental stewardship can reduce the misuse of environmental resources. This can somewhat help in the climate change issue. Thus, the purpose of this chapter is to examine the relationship that existed between the awareness of climate change and environmental stewardship of local residents of St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Electronic and paper surveys were administered to 317 participants at two local beaches. Results from the survey indicated that there were significant associations between residency and certain environmental stewardship behavior (stop buying fashion that was produced quickly and inexpensively) and participants’ perceptions of events caused by the warming of the earth. Understanding the importance of educating the community on climate change, the information obtained in the survey led to the creation of a science program at a local junior high school.

Although sometimes described as paradise, the prevalence of substance use and high rate of HIV infection in the Virgin Islands are alarming. The University of the Virgin Islands Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Program was designed to reduce drug use and prevent HIV infection among college students and young adults.

Undergraduate Research is any effort undertaken by an undergraduate that advances their academic knowledge and leads to new scholarly insights. This volume tells the story of undergraduate research programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities from the voices of faculty mentors, student mentees and UGR program directors and coordinators.